Iain McDonald, regional growth lead at WSP, has spent over 26 years working across engineering, infrastructure and local government. Ahead of Road Expo Scotland later this month, he discusses a moment of huge change for Scotland's councils and the role of technical consultancy in shaping what comes next.
Scotland is potentially on the brink of one of the most significant transformations of local government in a generation, with the prospect of its existing 32 councils being reorganised into as few as six to 10 larger regional authorities.
A vision for Scotland's regions
Regional reform should not simply be about creating larger organisations or reducing costs. It should enable councils to deliver more resilient services, make better use of limited resources and plan infrastructure around the needs of communities and regional economies. In practice, well-designed regional authorities could mean:
- Safer networks for road users – a consistent, data-led approach to road safety.
- Better-maintained assets – stronger asset management, with condition data, whole-life costing and planned maintenance replacing reactive repairs.
- Consistency across services – common standards, systems and levels of service, regardless of old boundaries.
- Investment in the right infrastructure – decisions shaped by what is right for each community, with funding directed to schemes that improve connectivity, support local businesses and unlock economic growth.
Learning from previous reform
The opportunities of regional scale alone will not guarantee better outcomes. Scotland's experience of previous public sector reform demonstrates the importance of retaining local connection and accountability.
In 2013, eight regional police forces were consolidated into Police Scotland, alongside the creation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. While these reforms sought to improve efficiency and reduce duplication, concerns were raised about the loss of local presence, accountability and community engagement.
First minister John Swinney has acknowledged the challenge of reform, observing that some councils are too small to be strategic while others are too large to be local.
Finding the right balance will be critical. The aim should be to secure the scale needed for strategic planning and efficient delivery while retaining local knowledge, responsiveness and meaningful community engagement.
Unlocking cross-boundary opportunities
A regional authority model could strengthen technical capacity, align infrastructure investment and unlock strategic projects that have historically been difficult to deliver within individual council boundaries. Fragmented funding or limited resources could become more viable, helping connect communities and support regional economic growth.
Major organisational transformation programmes require a blend of strategic, financial, organisational and technical expertise. Highways works require specialist engineering knowledge and operational experience, alongside an understanding of the financial, statutory and political pressures facing local authorities.
Multidisciplinary technical consultancies such as WSP can complement wider transformation expertise, bringing engineering knowledge and practical experience of public service delivery.
For councils, this can mean:
Informed decisions – evidence on asset condition, risk and lifecycle cost, so limited budgets produce the most impact. Capacity and resilience – access to specialist skills in areas where recruitment is difficult
Reduced risk – understanding of statutory duties, safety standards and funding requirements.
Future-ready infrastructure – international best practice from WSP's work across the globe, adapted to Scottish needs.
For communities, the outcomes are more tangible:
- Safer, more reliable journeys
- Better value for public money
- Stronger local economies
- Greater confidence and transparency.
How the industry is supporting councils now and after reform
While reform is debated, councils cannot stand still. Scotland Excel's Engineering and Technical Consultancy Framework, launched in May 2026, gives councils a four-year procurement route to specialist expertise across nine disciplines. It can help them address capacity pressures, strengthen asset management and deliver projects now, while building the data, plans and skills that will carry over into any new regional structure.
From reform to delivery
Ultimately, reform of Scotland's regional authorities will be judged by the outcomes it delivers. Whatever structure emerges, the opportunity is to create more resilient services, make better use of limited resources and ensure that infrastructure investment delivers lasting benefits for communities across Scotland.
WSP will be at Road Expo and Bridges Scotland on 24–25 November in Glasgow on stand D35. Register here to see them and many others at the event.
